Communiqué - Cal Fire - State of California

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Ralph Minnich, Unit Chief, Humbolt-Del Norte Unit By Yvonne DiLeo, Offi ce Assistant, Humboldt-Del Norte Unit The Humboldt-Del Norte Unit of CAL FIRE welcomed Ralph H. Minnich on July 1, 2007, as their unit chief. Chief Minnich, who has over 30 years of experience, began his career with CAL FIRE in the Butte Unit. His past positions include Northern Region deputy chief, Northern Operations Center assistant chief, Shasta-Trinity Unit battalion chief and Shasta-Trinity Unit forester I. In 1976, Minnich graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resources. He is a Registered Professional Forester, Advanced Peace Offi cer, possesses a Limited Service Teaching Credential with California Community Colleges and is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Shasta County Peace Offi cers Association. Chief Minnich has extensive training as an incident commander, operations sec- Bernie Paul, Unit Chief, Siskiyou Unit By Ron Bravo, Fire Prevention Battalion Chief, Siskiyou Unit On Sept 17, 2007, Bernie Paul was appointed unit chief of the Siskiyou Unit and on Oct. 16 as Siskiyou County fi re warden by the Board of Supervisors. Chief Paul’s career started with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in 1974 as a fi refi ghter I in the Butte Unit. In 1977 and 1978 he was a fi refi ghter II in the Fresno-King Unit. Paul brings to his new position years of experience as he worked in the private sector as the owner and operator of a logging company in Nevada County from 1979 through 1984. Chief Paul obtained permanent status at CAL FIRE in 1986 as a heavy fi re equipment operator (HFEO) in the Nevada- Yuba-Placer Unit before taking a training and development assignment as a fi re captain in 1990. In 1994, he transferred to the Siskiyou Unit. 28 Spring 2008 tion chief, situation unit leader (Instructor), and has received numerous awards including CAL FIRE’s Sustained Superior Accomplishment, Supervisory Superior Performance and Employee of the Year for the Shasta-Trinity Unit. Minnich’s diverse experiences and respected reputation will help to promote his goals of fostering healthy, productive relationships within the Unit and with local cooperative agencies that are responsible for the protection of natural resources. The unit’s lands extends from the Oregon border, 180 miles south to the Mendocino County line. The Unit includes portions of watersheds in the Smith, Klamath, Mad, Trinity, Van Duzen, Mattole and Eel Rivers. The Unit’s Resource Management program is responsible for reviewing 300 to 350 Timber Harvest Plans annually. Chief Paul later served as a fi re captain specialist and then promoted to battalion chief of Fire Prevention in 1997. In 2001, he was promoted to assistant chief of Fire Prevention for the Northern Region. With Paul’s interest in training, he has been assigned to the Leadership II Cadre for over ten years, Agency Rep Class, the National CIMC Cadre and the Steering Committee. He was instrumental in rewriting the Railroad Fire Prevention Guide and the 9400 Handbook. In 2004, he was assigned as the assistant chief of operations in the Siskiyou Unit and Siskiyou County deputy fi re warden. Chief Paul has also served on CAL FIRE’s Incident Command Teams as an information offi cer, deputy incident command and as incident commander. “I have truly enjoyed being part of the Team,” Paul said. Minnich and his wife Sunny have three grown daughters. The oldest, Jennifer, lives in Seattle while their twin daughters; Megan lives in Sacramento and Lindsey lives in San Diego. Paul and his wife LeeAnn live in Yreka with their son Jarrett, who is still in high school. His older son, Ryan, is attending college in Spokane, Washington.
Medal of Valor On December 4, 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded the Governor’s Medal of Valor to six CAL FIRE employees who demonstrated extraordinary bravery and heroism in saving a life. The fi refi ghters received the Medal of Valor, the highest honor that California bestows upon its public servants, as part of a ceremony recognizing 31 state employees. David Shew of Napa On April 27, 2007, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Shew risked his own personal safety by rescuing an intoxicated, suicidal victim from jumping off a bridge. Chief Shew was waiting for a traffi c signal when he noticed a man getting ready to jump off an over crossing. Chief Shew was able to grab the man’s hand and talk him back over the rail saving his life and avoiding a potential traffi c disaster. William Smith of Yorba Linda, Jacklyn Bowes, of Victorville, Kelley DeGiff ord, of Temple City On August 29, 2006, CAL FIRE Fire Apparatus Engineer Smith, Firefi ghter I Bowes, and Firefi ghter I DeGiff ord rescued a mother and son who were trapped in a burning building. As an approaching wildfi re cut off the escape route for the residents, the engine company instructed the pair to take refuge inside the home, while the crew sheltered them with water from their hoses until the fi re passed. The extreme heat and fl ames caught the home on fi re, so the crew entered the house and evacuated the occupants from the burning home and brought them to safety. Richard (Rick) Moore of Clovis On July 3, 2006, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Moore successfully assisted three people to safety during a wildfi re in Fresno, California. Chief Moore approached a home threatened by an oncoming wildfi re and safely evacuated a family from harm’s way. A fourth woman outside the home was unable to get out of the fi re’s path in time and the fi re overran her. Chief Moore helped her to the ground, covering her with his body as the fl ames passed over them both. Ignacio Otero, Jr. of Indio On May 9, 2007, CAL FIRE Firefi ghter II Otero risked his personal safety by protecting and saving the life of another fi refi ghter during a structure fi re. Firefi ghter Otero was part of an engine company that responded to a fi re at a strip mall in the city of Indio. While fi refi ghters were aggressively attacking the fi re, the facade and portions of the building cracked and broke away. Without hesitation fi refi ghter Otero moved another fi refi ghter to safety and placed himself between the falling debris and the fi refi ghter, saving the other fi refi ghter’s life. above: CAL FIRE’s six 2007 Medal of Valor recipients pose with State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan. from left to right: William Smith, Kelley DeGiff ord, Jacklyn Bowes, Kate Dargan, Ignacio Otero Jr, Richard Moore and David Shew. Communiqué 29
Page 1 and 2: Communiqué Spring 2008 California
Page 3 and 4: Director’s Message 2 Honoring the
Page 5 and 6: For many years employees and electe
Page 7 and 8: Strong Interagency Relationships Cr
Page 9 and 10: To cover the large number of Southe
Page 11 and 12: vide for personnel safety and the s
Page 13 and 14: and dangerous forcing aircrafts to
Page 15 and 16: Saturday Oct. 27 Buckweed Fire Cont
Page 17 and 18: Getting to the burnover was diffi c
Page 19 and 20: “There were so many untold storie
Page 21 and 22: “We are especially thankful for t
Page 23 and 24: The fi rst eff ort was the Hillslop
Page 25 and 26: More than Orange Jumpsuits Conserva
Page 27 and 28: dar, which raised money and put the
Page 29: Meet CAL FIRE’s New Chiefs... Bec

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